Can our Croft Survive the Highland Winter? Ep. 262.

[@richardvoran5514]

Shaun please take super care, and let that injury heal! I continue to be amazed at the detailed knowledge you acquire, Colin, about each of your activities. You are definitely a knowledge sponge 😉. Great vlog today! Love you both ❤️❤️

[@lesleyedser9748]

Love seeing the chickens, let them produce eggs naturally in the winter, they are so giving they need a rest💕

[@MyChannel-di2ho]

Could you do a vlog o the whole project of buying a property in Scotland. Where you look, purchase process, how you made decisions on where, why the highlands etc. I think people would be interested… ❤️❤️❤️

[@Lindasinish]

And maybe an inside house tour.

[@nicolad8822]

@@pman2916 You don’t, but you won’t be able to live there full time unless you have the appropriate immigration status.

[@markc7955]

When did they buy? Iv missed alot apparently.

[@DGKK55]

The Girls are some lucky chicks 😅 The bees are beautifully spoilt too. You are both such a lovely pair, I admire everything you do for these animals . Fair rare!

[@jamesvanian5524]

Another fascinating and interesting video guy's. Winters in Scotland can be very bad. The year I was born my parents had to dig a tunnel out of the front door in Brechin as the snow had drifted over the door height, By the way my Prostrate Biopsy came back as negative for Cancer. Keep well and safe James.

[@FoxesAfloat]

That’s brilliant news (the biopsy) 👍🏻

[@jamesvanian5524]

@@FoxesAfloat Thanks guy's I am very relieved.

[@marilyncalvert4143]

You guys are so funny 😆 love that when one speaks the other one finishes the others sentences. You live in a beautiful area.

[@ashlynntaylor6045]

Here in Nova Scotia we are making winter preparations too. A lot of things need to be addressed when you live in the country. Knee injuries sure limit your mobility and abilities. Do what the Drs tell you, and no shenanigans! 😜

[@JP-lk2qs]

Colin and Shaun,kings of my heart ❤

[@annjarvis9300]

Awww grand you making all the creatures warm and safe for winter tc now grand vlog hope your knee mending the oldies 🤗🤗

[@live2skide1]

The photos of the croft around the apiary are just spectacular. No doubt you are taking wonderful care of all the important business around the animals & bees. Take care and heal Shaun. Rest is an amazing thing. Tell Colin you need your "leg" massaged now and then to keep it limber...............

[@gillallen4021]

Beautiful vlog. The scenery is stunning and it’s wonderful that you’ve made a happy home for yourselves. Happy home Anniversary for next week ❤❤

[@jayne1905]

Great vlog guys !! Please be careful with the knee as I speak with experience, it takes so long to heal but you will be fine if you rest 😊x😊

[@FBASD01]

Ready for winter in a beautiful Highland autumn world. Take care guys!

[@chrismarydownes8153]

Great vlog tonight, really interesting to see all you do to get ready for winter. Glad Shaun's knee is improving. Take care both.See you soon. 💕🐾🐾🐓🐝👻xxxxx. C&M.

[@FoxesAfloat]

Improving slowly ❤️❤️

[@heidimacarthur7205]

Sherlock looks like he’s smiling. I think he is happy with his new home and his new companions. Would love to see more of the puppies.

[@cherryclark2572]

So good to see all the little critters being tucked in so nice and cosy!❤

[@colleenmckinlay2916]

Absolutely a piece of heaven. So glad I found your channel. You really love your animals. So much care and love! Well done guys. I learn so much from your channel about living on a Croft. Absolutely fascinating. Hope Shaun’s knee feels / heals soon. I so understand knee pain as I wait for my second knee replacement ! Ug🫤

[@annwagner5779]

Take care, gentlemen, hens, bees, pups, and Sherlock! Keep warm! ❤

[@judithfarkas2636]

Colin you’re really a busy guy good for you letting Shaun rest his knee hope it heals fast ❤

[@FoxesAfloat]

We don’t really have a choice 🤣

[@rhondasrdavis]

My husband used wood chip mulch to help with the mud, and then covered with sand. Just a suggestion.

[@paulhamstead9871]

It's been really interesting to follow , you the last 3 plus years.looking at you now in Scotland makes me feel warm . you both take care and have a good Christmas and a happy new year regards Paul in w.a 🎉

[@bruceshaw2402]

After watching your vlog I was listening to an audio Sherlock Holmes short story where Holmes had retired to the country in a small cottage , was keeping bees and going swimming in the sea , the similarities made me smile especially as you are now looking after " Sherlock " 🤔 .

[@MrGreatplum]

I come here to find out about the birds and the bees 😂 - glad to see they are all prepared for winter :) great stuff!

[@johnmajane3731]

I had my left meniscus torn. After a year did the surgery. Then three years later the right tore. Waited a year and had the surgery. PT is the secret to recovery. Great video, informative and entertaining. Thanks.

[@cherylsuegaunt6693]

I think adding the sand was a brilliant choice for the ladies. Great Job 👏 You guys are doing well as farmers such a difference from floating down the canals. But every now and then I miss you on the water it was so calming to me but I am sure it wasn’t so calm for you two at least not every day. Take Care and get well soon. Keep that knee up! ❤❤

[@catherinedolmenartist8012]

thanks guys - you always put a smile on my face. I'm glad you're off the boat and showing us the gorgeous Scottish highlands every week. Shaun hope your knee heals fast and well. Take care!

[@Hermit1903]

Shhh you two! If you tell everyone how amazingly good it is up here, they will all want to move up!

[@debbielyons1704]

You guys are so funny! Sorry about your knee! I had the same thing several years ago and I know that's some bad pain! Sending you lots of healing light!

[@teaeff8898]

Always enjoy your videos! 😀👍 Hope Shaun is healing up! All I can think of when you show the lochs is… I’d love to get a boat out there. 😁

[@GaryB007]

A friend of mine was up there on a walking holiday during Storm Ciaran. She mentioned that she would be visiting some friends who live up that way, and I mentioned that I follow you guys on KZbin and that you might be nearby. Turns out they are a few houses from you and they sometimes buy eggs from you. Small world innit 😃

[@FoxesAfloat]

Haha! Indeed!

[@stever2583]

You can coat the tarps with a plasticy paint. Canvak is the brand... My neighbour used plasti dip and added sand to the wet coating. Lasted two years so far. Gives a tarp many years of use instead of 2 ish...

[@suekrebs8387]

I can't stop giggling when you both do the same. Hoping Sean's knee problem recovers well and fast.

[@paulturner7837]

Hope the knees improve soon Shaun, I think you’ve earned a 3 month rest period mate. You done a good job securing the roof on the chicken run Colin and getting all that sand down, nice to have it close to to hand like that. Have a nice weekend guys 👍

[@lucyelton7139]

The best vlog I've seen from my perspective of your wonderful croft. Thank you and hope you both keep safe, healthy and sane this Winter. Love Lucy xx

[@tonyowen116]

What wonderful colour fills the highlands at this time of year. Thanks for the aerial footage. Always interesting to hear how you guys take care of the creatures on your plot. Great shot of snow on the tops of the mountains round about. Here in CA, the Sierra Nevada range just got a good dowsing of snow at the higher elevations. More on the way next week. Cheers,,,,

[@FoxesAfloat]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@donnisdavis2185]

ya'll look happier now than on the boat, take care of the keens and stay warm.. have a good evening!!

[@lazylezinc]

Nature wins every time. Am sure you guys agree with that after all the effort you have made to make your croft as original as you can. no fake lighting please. Brilliant as ever. Keep on keeping on.

[@amystorer1894]

I want to see inside your home. Love from the USA

[@FoxesAfloat]

With Silver Fox being so well known, we completely lost our privacy on the boat. Apologies, but we won’t be showing inside or outside of our house. We hope you understand xxx

[@gordthompson4664]

So nice to see you doting on the hens. They're not as exotic as Sherlock but they are still some fine looking ladies! If you can get by with fewer eggs it might be nice to let them relax a bit over the winter. Laying one of those every day must get to be a bit of a chore. 😅

[@cfladyread3494]

This was a really good vlog. Again so much good information but the photography was beautiful. You both work so hard to keep your projects safe and healthy. It is good that Shaun will have the winter to rest his knee. Colin, you are really carrying the load. Good on you.

[@nbspudley]

Love it guys

[@alanfirth4676]

Excellent informative vlog. Shawn rest that knee. Coldest night we had in Scotland(Fintry) -15c. But was still enjoyable. So pleased you have settled where you are.

[@LMin-p8w]

You guys never fail to make me giggle. Thank you. X

[@briankelly7920]

If the meniscus tear is on the inside, see if you can get an...unloader one....brace. It shifts the weight bearing to the other side of the knee. Also, periodic cortisone and hylauranic acid injections can help with pain and range of motion🙂

[@lloydpenfold486]

Stay warm guys!

[@dylanmason1867]

hi gents i only came across you channel a few weks ago as someone who suffers from anxiety and depression i find it truly relaxing .Ihave not been on a canal boat since i was 14 but am planning a trip near oxford next summer , keep up the great content

[@FoxesAfloat]

Welcome!

[@heathwellsNZ]

I love how I learn something new each and every vlog!

[@cweenmjory6358]

You two have really taken to the Highland life, even if you haven't picked up the accent. Take care and stay warm. 💖💖💖💖

[@Richard-e2w]

Lol Shawn's laugh is contagious he always looks embarrassed. lol hope your knee gets better soon and stay warm this winter guys

[@bonnienichalson5151]

Always a delight to see a post from my favourite 🐱 couple 😊 so much joy You both share with each other 💕☺️❤️👍🥳

[@crichardson4789]

Tie out stakes (spiral stakes for dogs - about £3-£4) and steel wire will hold down the frame of the run. I have the same run and tarp - including one tarp that goes to floor level - and have had no problems using that system in a very exposed windy area.

[@FoxesAfloat]

Did you miss where Colin said it’s survived two winter with 80/90mpg storms? Ours is pinned into concrete blocks 😉

[@crichardson4789]

No - not even slightly! However its nice to have an optional extra. I'm too old to be lifting concrete blocks. Thinking about it - I'm too old to be even shopping for concrete blocks... Age brings 'alternatives'. @@FoxesAfloat

[@amandamonaghan1190]

Amazing views. Great to see your enjoying life in the highlands ❤

[@joanneparsons1363]

So interesting, love how you live your life in the highlands and how you look after the livestock

[@BFDT-4]

Good to hear from you all

[@gingermolinero8386]

Shaun and Colin this was a great vlog. Please pet the puppies for me

[@janestevens6000]

I have. A meniscus tear right now and it is sooooo painful. Mine tore and all I did was get out of mine. Physio excercises no help yet 😩stay safe lads.Scotland’s beauty is worth the cold. Xxx

[@chrisshort4198]

Wot, no comic outro? ;) cheers guys, thanks for making me smile as always.

[@MelG-ut3hs]

That was a great vlog very interesting showing us your winter preparations.

[@catherine3902]

Hi Guys. Another enjoyable vlog. Thank you both. Busy time now, preparing for winter. Keep safe and warm, and well.😊

[@MrFroglips69]

I wondered if I would enjoy your videos as much after you left your narrowboat. The answer is YES, possibly more. You both have super groovy personalities, and you both have created interesting new life's in Scotland. You are very good with your hands. In short you make everything interesting, funny and at time educational, and I love it. Never stop being you.

[@alistairholes7633]

Washing still out that's reminds me of that one foot in the grave episode Colin 😂😂where Victor meldrew left the washing outside in the snow and Margaret had to bring them in and the washing was frozen as specially Margaret's tights and Victor's shocks😂😂😂😂. Excellent vlog today Colin watching you doing Shaun's work as well as your own must be hard work. It's always nice to see you both on a Friday at 16:00pm hope you guys have a lovely eekend and look after yourself.

[@A-contented-Aussie-life]

Always a pleasure to watch. You boys just know how to enjoy life.

[@ralphcherry617]

Informative as usual, and the photography is superb, also as usual. Good work, boys!

[@christopherbutler7588]

Lovely video Certainly a lot to do before we get to middle of winter. Love the chickens great work have a lovely weeken😊😊🐕🐶

[@rogermillard7290]

Very interesting vlog, Colin. We have learnt more from you than anything else. So good and informative. We like all you are doing.

[@glenn2171]

What is the biggest challenge you face during the winter in the highlands?

[@gordthompson4664]

For me it would certainly be the short days and the LONG hours of darkness, but I asked them about it last year and they didn't seem too bothered by it.

[@irenamangone]

Thank you Colin and Shaun Interesting as always blessings from Queensland Australia

[@obvioustomost]

I miss your narrowboating vlog. Bud in Phoenix, AZ, USA. I have a grading business (heavy equipment dirt wirk... cutting high spots and putting them in the low spots

[@stevebonds5157]

Been there...done that....years ago. The scoped it and cut the small flap tear I had. If I stand in certain way for a length of time, I will feel it. Hope you heal quick and it doesn't give you fits.

[@SteveB6636]

Colin, what you need is a layer of geotextile fabric on the mud, below the layers of sand you're bringing in. The fabric allows water to drain away but stops the mud from coming up to the surface.

[@FoxesAfloat]

The chickens would dig it up and shred it within an hour 🤣

[@SteveB6636]

​@@FoxesAfloatnot a chance of that. Geofabric is designed to be used on construction sites with heavy equipment running over it. It's extremely tough stuff.

[@FoxesAfloat]

@@SteveB6636 Okay, you pay for it and we'll try it 😂

[@claren4643]

So, so beautiful... thank you!

[@cindygutha8124]

Hope your knee is feeling better soon Shaun.Thank you Colin and Shaun for taking care of your Chickens,Sherlock and the Bees you've done a Fantastic job on your homestead.I was wondering do you get much snow there in the winter or just really cold.Have a great week!!🤗

[@rich_john]

Great update

[@janoakes9267]

Fantastic drone shots and photos! Great vlog too, as always! 🙂

[@barbaramcquiddy1814]

Shaun, I also tore my meniscus and had to have surgery and PT. You poor darling, I can relate to the pain you are going through. I love the caring way you care for the chickens. Lucky birds.

[@ETRuT1]

Lovely, guys. Thanks.

[@FoxesAfloat]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@richardmoxon2025]

What's with the crocodile in the Loch behind you? Brilliant vlog as ever, thanks.

[@MaggieTremayne]

You know I love 'ya!! Always enjoy your 🦉🐔🐈🐝🐈‍⬛ vlogs🥰

[@jacquelineotis4322]

It's getting cold here in Canada, we are also getting ready. ❤❤❤

[@AlextheHistorian]

I always enjoy your videos! Wishing Shaun a speedy recovery with his knee! Love from the US.

[@thalitagreyvenstein787]

Awesome and you do get ve me I good laugh thanks for that. It is hot in Cape Town. I don’t like the summer. Like it cold. But we can’t have everything we want can we. Bless the world 🙏🏻🙏🏻🕊🕊🌻🌻

[@maxiemills6982]

Take care of your self Shaun. I hope you get better soon.

[@ianthomas1060]

We ended up putting a water proof roof over our hens, best move ever. Do it, so it wont blow away and its worth every penny. The 'lady's' (as we call them) run in dry areas mainly all year round now. Our pen is only 20 foot x 10 foot and been in place 10 years now. You live & learn with livestock.

[@FoxesAfloat]

Did you not watch? That’s what we did 😕

[@ianthomas1060]

@@FoxesAfloatI did I promise, my eyes must be out of focus! I bet you agree though that keeping it dry inside is easier for everyone, the ladies, us slipping and there is nothing nicer than collecting clean eggs rather than muddy ones.

[@gazzertrn]

All this prep is so good for your health , keeps you focused and intrested in things . Wow must be great doing all this prep , i would be in my element looking after all those creatures .Something i always wanted to do . Great vid Guys keep it up.

[@rubberdc]

You are both so funny , I fully enjoyed this video and learned things about bees and chickens I hadnt heard about.The innuendo's are particularly funny .

[@FoxesAfloat]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@SoldiersDad]

Thanks!

[@FoxesAfloat]

Thank you so much. 😊

[@neikocoleman9856]

Foxy Friday 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@kayflower49]

Watching this is making me feel homesick. I come from Bristol but worked many years in Scotland. I lived in Orkney, Inverness, Aberdeen, plus the borders. And have friends in Bonar Bridge where I spent a few holidays. The north of Scotland is something different. Enjoy and keep safe.xxx😊

[@maggiemoo0328]

I agree with you about moving away from civilisation! I’m not being a misery and I love company, but we’ve just moved to a house near Arbroath. The phone signal is extremely poor, there are no streetlights, but the views are just gorgeous and it’s so peaceful. Thank you for your updates - they are so informative and interesting xx

[@Smartgran]

2 years already. Amazing. Shaun was in fine fettle tonight and Colin too. Absolutely beautiful where you live. Is it Sutherland? Hoping for a bit milder winter this year in Argyll.. Loved tonight's blog. Want you to get a couple of donkeys though.

[@FoxesAfloat]

I wish we had the land and funds for two donkeys 🫏

[@JudeLuZe]

You guys make me so happy!!

[@hughcarson6837]

I think I have told you before weather in Scotland is seven months of winter and five months of bad weather. Get well soon Shawn

[@andyhill242]

The Chickens were interested in the sand spreading. Did you check for chicken-sized lumps afterwards?

[@christ3415]

Hi Shaun, I feel your knee pain as a couple of years ago on a trip to Spain I hurt my left knees Meniscus and it still hurts now and then. Chris from Sydney, Australia.

[@chrismarcotte4241]

Nice to Have the sand on your property!!!

[@jmuse7465]

Seeing a simple Christmas train set would make by day!

[@andyrbush]

That was wonderful, just what I was hoping to see, getting ready for the winter. I hope if it snows you can show us please.

[@anfieldroadlayoutintheloft5204]

good vid

[@jacquelineryde7339]

Love the Vlog, always so enjoyable. Glad you know the problem with the knee, it always feels a bit better once you at least know the problem. The only questions I have are probably pants so I will leave it to the experts and enjoy the answers 😂👍👍

[@corriearnold9694]

Curious about what you need to do for yourselves to get ready for winter. What do you do for your home and vehicles? Loved watching your preparation for your animals. I do miss watching your canal videos but I can completely understand why you wanted to move to an actual stationary home. Way more comfortable and way less stressful I’m guessing. Love you fellas and love your uplifting positive attitudes. I deal with depression and can’t imagine how living on a boat would be. Love and hugs to you both. ❤

[@gardenrailroading]

The mice go down easy, just like octopus' you gotta watch out for the teeth (or beak) LOL. Love you guys.